Adaptive optics / wavefront sensing

InGaAs SWIR cameras are used for wavefront sensing or adaptive optics in free space satellite communication applications. The advantage of using a VISNIR camera is the excellent sensitivity for both 1064nm Nd:YAG lasers as well as for 850nm lasers. Another application field of adaptive optics for SWIR InGaAs cameras is astronomy. Also here, a VISNIR camera covers a very large spectrum going from visible to SWIR up to 1700nm. High speed versions of the standard XEVA camera output up to 350fps at a resolution of 320x256 pixels.

Target designation laser detection

The most common battlefield lasers operate around 850nm, 1064nm, or 1550nm. Only the first two types are visible to night vision goggles; the third one, 1550nm, is therefore considered covert. A VISNIR camera is able to see all three at the same time.

Nightvision

Thermal imaging cameras, such as LWIR uncooled microbolometers, have excellent detection abilities at night. However SWIR InGaAs cameras are a good compliment to thermal imaging cameras. While thermal imaging can detect the presence of a warm object against a cool background, a SWIR camera can actually identify what that object is. SWIR nightvision is based on reflection of infrared rays from atmospheric glow rather than on thermal radiation; moreover SWIR InGaAs cameras have a much better dynamic range than thermal imagers. Obviously, a VISNIR InGaAs camera benefits from its ability to see more wavelengths when there is some visible light present. Additionally, by using SWIR illumination for example 1550nm LEDs or lasers, a scene can be covertly illuminated, i.e., viewing is only possible with a SWIR camera.

Hyperspectral imaging in Visible, NIR and SWIR

A VISNIR InGaAs camera is the ideal instrument for hyperspectral imaging in the visible, NIR and SWIr band up to 1700nm. State-of-the-art diffractive optics (spectrographs) cover the range from visible up to 1700nm, especially interesting for process inspection in semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical industry, food safety and food quality.